Starvation Mode

SHBoss1673

So why does MFP itself tell you exactly the opposite if you log under your calorie goal? Lowers metabolism, makes weight loss difficult, you must have at least 1200 calories minimum, yada yada yada...

I think you know the answer to that already.

dzilobommo

So why does MFP itself tell you exactly the opposite if you log under your calorie goal? Lowers metabolism, makes weight loss difficult, you must have at least 1200 calories minimum, yada yada yada...

I think you know the answer to that already.

Sorry but that's a bit of a cop-out reply - if we knew the answer already, we wouldn't be asking

Whilst I love MFP and feel confident that it's going to be a major help for me to achieve my goals, I do think it can be a bit inconsistent with regards to advice. Yesterday I was 400 kcal under my target because I did a load of exercise. When I completed the day's entry, MFP told me "If every day was like this, you'd be XX kg in 5 weeks" - I can't remember the exact figure, but it was definitely more than 5 pounds weight loss. Now surely that sounds like an encouragement - "keep this up and you'll meet your goals early!" So why insist that going below 1200 kcal is bad for you and will put you into starvation mode? I'm not saying that starvation mode is a myth, but I think it would be a bit rich for me to blame changes in my weight loss patterns on it, when I know I am sitting on a generous store of fat

I'm no natural scientist, but whilst I accept that dieting has all sorts of effect on your body and metabolism, it still doesn't make sense to me why my body would go into starvation mode just because I eat 1500 kcal and exercise 4-500 kcal per day. If it's true that at the first sign of (mild) food deprivation, our bodies start breaking down muscle (a precious and important resource that is energy-intensive to cultivate), then why did we evolve to store energy in the form of fat in the first place? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Maybe if you ate very little and didn't do any exercise, I can kind of see the logic behind the body breaking down unused muscle, but surely you'd also be losing fat, and probably faster than you'd be losing muscle. And if the reason that my net calories are 'too low' by MFP standards is that I am exercising, surely my body must be trying to build muscle to cope with the demand, not break it down before it remembers to turn to its trusty fat stores?

I know that our metabolisms are complicated, but I believe there are some basic underlying principles that govern the general direction of changes in fat and muscle, which must make sense or they wouldn't have evolved. At the same time, each of us has different genes, different weights, ages, diets, lifestyles etc., so of course no two persons will lose weight exactly the same way on a day-to-day basis.

Which is why the blanket approach of "eat your exercise calories/don't ever go below 1200 kcal or you'll stop losing weight" just doesn't sit with me...

SHBoss1673

So why does MFP itself tell you exactly the opposite if you log under your calorie goal? Lowers metabolism, makes weight loss difficult, you must have at least 1200 calories minimum, yada yada yada...

I think you know the answer to that already.

Sorry but that's a bit of a cop-out reply - if we knew the answer already, we wouldn't be asking

Whilst I love MFP and feel confident that it's going to be a major help for me to achieve my goals, I do think it can be a bit inconsistent with regards to advice. Yesterday I was 400 kcal under my target because I did a load of exercise. When I completed the day's entry, MFP told me "If every day was like this, you'd be XX kg in 5 weeks" - I can't remember the exact figure, but it was definitely more than 5 pounds weight loss. Now surely that sounds like an encouragement - "keep this up and you'll meet your goals early!" So why insist that going below 1200 kcal is bad for you and will put you into starvation mode? I'm not saying that starvation mode is a myth, but I think it would be a bit rich for me to blame changes in my weight loss patterns on it, when I know I am sitting on a generous store of fat

I'm no natural scientist, but whilst I accept that dieting has all sorts of effect on your body and metabolism, it still doesn't make sense to me why my body would go into starvation mode just because I eat 1500 kcal and exercise 4-500 kcal per day. If it's true that at the first sign of (mild) food deprivation, our bodies start breaking down muscle (a precious and important resource that is energy-intensive to cultivate), then why did we evolve to store energy in the form of fat in the first place? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Maybe if you ate very little and didn't do any exercise, I can kind of see the logic behind the body breaking down unused muscle, but surely you'd also be losing fat, and probably faster than you'd be losing muscle. And if the reason that my net calories are 'too low' by MFP standards is that I am exercising, surely my body must be trying to build muscle to cope with the demand, not break it down before it remembers to turn to its trusty fat stores?

I know that our metabolisms are complicated, but I believe there are some basic underlying principles that govern the general direction of changes in fat and muscle, which must make sense or they wouldn't have evolved. At the same time, each of us has different genes, different weights, ages, diets, lifestyles etc., so of course no two persons will lose weight exactly the same way on a day-to-day basis.

Which is why the blanket approach of "eat your exercise calories/don't ever go below 1200 kcal or you'll stop losing weight" just doesn't sit with me...

so, I agree with much of what you've said. And my previous post essentially says the same thing in different words. Which is why I said " I think you already know the answer". Which is also why it isn't a cop out.

Why does Mike put 1200 calories as a floor? I don't know, you'll probably need to ask him on that one. Maybe for legal reasons, maybe because he's human and suffers from the same flaws as the rest of us. You have to remember, Mike (the site creator), isn't any more of a nutrition expert than the rest of us. He's a person who had success with this method, and saw a need to create the site and did so. You can easily email him In MFP by just sending an email to "Mike". Incidentally, if you get an answer from him, please share it (if he's ok with that) as I'd like to know also. I've had emails with Mike before, he's a reasonable and genuine guy, if you present him with something solid and present facts, then I'm sure he'll listen and take it under consideration.

I will say that the research proves what I've stated in my previous post, I can post some of this research by request if you like, but I've already done so in numerous other posts so I feel reposting citation every time I post, in a forum is a little redundant. Feel free to pm me if you want to read the research though, it's black and white what happens to the body in both a reduced calorie diet and the total absence of calories as well.

JillyBean819

that was happening to me to...but one thing i started to do thats helping and it may not be for everyone. but i drink a cup of unsweet silk soy milk..with one spender packet in it right be for bed. i know everything says nothing before bed but i find it really helps me...

Personally I don't subscribe to the "nothing before bed theory". I always have a snack before bed - usually skim milk & fruit or a 100 calorie snack pack if I want something sweet or salty. Hasn't affected my weight loss. I still believe it comes down to calories in vs calories out.

As for what you are eating getting stored as fat - that's only going to happen if you over eat. As long as you eat your up to your calorie goal each day, you will lose weight. Make sure you eat your exercise calories too.

I agree. I doubt that eating before bed has any significant impact on weight loss/gain. I avoid it simply because I will have indigestion really bad if I eat within 30 minutes of laying down to sleep.

Ambrogio1

Thats your body becoming a monster. Thats good. Its asking you to feed it because its burning the cals you take in.
Start looking to eat a slow burning carb later at night. some mihgt not agree but if you had otameal as your complex carb before bed you might not wake up in "starvation mode". I hate feeling like that mentally it makes me feel unstable and bingy for food

morganadk2_deleted

I stay under 1200 calories every day for the past 15 weeks and have consistently lost weight.

NOT advisable in the long term!

hard to says , not sure you are eating enough, maybe this will help!


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calo


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits


"Generally someone with a BMI over 32 can do a 1000 calorie a day (2 lbs a week) deficit
With a BMI of 30 to 32 a deficit of 750 calories is generally correct (about 1.5 lbs a week)
With a BMI of 28 to 30 a deficit of 500 calories is about right (about 1 lb a week)
With a BMI of 26 to 28 a deficit of about 300 calories is perfect (about 1/2 lb a week)
and below 26... well this is where we get fuzzy. See now you're no longer talking about being overweight, so while it's still ok to have a small deficit, you really should shift your focus more towards muscle tone, and reducing fat. This means is EXTRA important to eat your exercise calories as your body needs to KNOW it's ok to burn fat stores, and the only way it will know is if you keep giving it the calories it needs to not enter the famine response (starvation mode) "


Good luck on your journey!

shanamalena

You know my Ob told me I needed to get down to 135 pounds.... She said do whatever you gotta do to lose the weight. She said eat 500 calories a day and on the weekends eat 800 calories. She said eat mainly fruits, vegetables, and protein.

And that is all she said about it........lol Well first of all I was shocked when she said I needed to get down to 135 pounds. I was thinking 145 pounds. I was also surprised when she told me to eat 500 calories a day. She didnt say anything at all about exercise. lol But anyways.........

C/S

But I believe in the starvation mode, but I just think that everybodies body is different on how it handles different situations. And I think it depends on what type of foods you eat, but then it still goes back to your body. I think it is good to take a multi-vitamin on any diet. Really it may good to take a multivitamin period. I also heard of ways to trick your brain to think it is getting food, so it does not go into the starvation mode.

But I always have wondered about the gastric bypass and lipo-band how you can only eat so much. And all these other diets where you consume 500 calories a day. And I have never read anything about people dieing....

Oh you know one thing I definetly wondered about is FASTING......It suppose to be good for you to fast once a month......??? Okay, whats up with that??

And also I had met this woman long time ago from Moracco. And once a year they would go like one month not eating or drinking anything during certain times a day. Like they wouldnt eat or drink anything until like 8 at night.........??

IDK......But I know one thing I seen on tv where alot of asian people are soo skinny because they eat alot of fish. Something about the amino acids are good for you. Plus everyone knows that fish, turkey and chicken are some of the best meat to eat. But anyways when I go grocery shopping tomorrow I am stocking up on some fish!! Im going to start eating a fish, rice, and vegetable for dinner everyday. And eat some type of chicken or turkey for lunch. I do not care to much for beef anyways. I know I have been feeling so much better since I have been watching what I eat. No more junk food!!

But to all the critics.....!! I know my statements may not make any sense nor use correct grammar...Or whatever!! IDK..... Ya'll need to read the book "The Shack"!!! LMAO........xoxoxoxoxoxoxo